New compact disc released by VocalEssence Ensemble Singers on Clarion Records

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (February 14, 2008) – This fall, VocalEssence and Clarion Records launched Heritage: The American Choral Experience, a new series of CDs celebrating choral music by American composers, with the release of is The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass (Clarion CLR931CD).

The second in the series is The Songs We Sang — Favorite American Folksongs (Clarion CLR932CD), a heartwarming journey down memory lane with the great American folksongs many of us grew up singing. The CD release will be celebrated at the Minnesota Music Educators Association’s Midwinter conference on February 14, 2008.

Joined by guitar, bass, accordion, harmonica and piano, the 32-voice VocalEssence Ensemble Singers and conductor Philip Brunelle perform an array of familiar songs such as “Skip to My Lou,” “Seeing Nellie Home,” and “Riders in the Sky.” Arrangements by Norman Luboff, Edwin Fissinger, James Erb, Jack Halloran and the team of Alice Parker & Robert Shaw capture each folksong’s unique appeal.

Philip Brunelle was inspired to commit these songs to compact disc by his discovery that many songs considered old “chestnuts” are not at all familiar to the youngest generation of choral singers and directors. “Whether passed along by tradition or composed by a known songwriter, all of these songs have a melody that you can hum, sing and remember,” he says, noting that these songs are particularly suited to use in the classroom.

Issued in Enhanced CD format, The Songs We Sang includes files that can be accessed by inserting the disc into most personal computers. The enhanced content features “A Folksong Companion,” an engaging 100-plus page website with song lyrics, program notes, composer biographies and additional resources.

“The resources on ‘A Folksong Companion’ help anchor each song in its historical moment, enabling educators and conductors to share a deeper understanding with their singers, students and audience members,” says Philip Brunelle.

For a press/promotional copy of the CD and further information, please contact Katryn Conlin at VocalEssence (kconlin@vocalessence.org, 612-547-1457).

For a full track listing and mp3 samples of selected tracks, link to The Songs We Sang in the recordings section of vocalessence.org.